As a RF3-user i can not post in the official forum, and nextlimit suggest me to ask here.i am only RF3 user (i need it only to calculate particles and softbody dynamics .. no mesh,no waves) and i used the last LW (2015) and i have RF3 simulation data (bin files).

I am not a LW user myself, maybe Oldcode can comment on how to load different particle formats into this software.

This is a general problem in this field of computing: formats change all the time and become incompatible. The companies thencharge the user to stay compatible and to pay every year... I can understand it from the viewpoint of software producers though, and sometimes it is actually cheaper to use certain software as in the case of AdobeCC, but it is a paradigm shift for the end user.

Sorry, I have no idea how to bring .ASC and .PDC into Lightwave. Since the Compatibility Plugin for Lightwave/Real Flow works really well, I've never had a need. If you are not using RF3 for commercial jobs, then maybe its time to upgrade to RF2014 Learning Edition. It's even possible that you can use the Compatibility Plugin from 2014 to bring in the particles from RF3. I don't know if that would violate your license though.

Just made a little test with my RF3 (for Mac) here and the latest plugins for some 3D software.

Maya2015: the standard connectivity plugin can read RF3-bin files, render kit for mental ray can read the bin files as wellCinema4D-R16: connectivity plugin does not show the particles, but render kit can load them

So, yes, one option would be to purchase the learning edition of RF2014 for $99 and this gives you access to the latest plugins, which seem to be able to load the old particle bin-files most of the time (don't know about LW).